Abstract: Parasites play a key role in regulating animal populations. Complex parasite-host interactions develop as each tries to maximize its fitness at the expense of the other. In addition to immune and other physiological adaptations that maximize host fitness, some animals engage in behaviors that reduce contact with parasites. One effective method of preventing contraction of fecal-orally transmitted parasites is to avoid feces altogether, particularly diseased feces. Animals such as grazing ungulates and lab mice have demonstrated the ability to detect parasite-contaminated areas and stay away from such areas when feeding and nesting. Peromyscus leucopus and P. maniculatus, which are sympatric Mountain Lake Biological Station in southwestern Virginia, share food, tunnels, and nesting areas, and host the same intestinal parasites. As these parasites are transmitted fecal-orally, and the two species of mice use the same microhabitats, both intraspecific and interspecific transmission of parasites is a distinct possibility. In this study I sought to determine if wild Peromyscus are able to detect parasite-infected feces, and if they avoid feces, healthy and/or infected, when feeding and nesting. My results demonstrate that the mice do not have the ability to distinguish between infected and healthy feces, and that they actually prefer to nest and spend time near feces. This apparent disregard for exposure to intestinal parasites may result from the many selective pressures acting on Peromyscus populations. The benefits of avoiding predation and acquiring potentially scarce food may outweigh the cost of exposure to and transmission of intestinal parasites.